2000 Ford Escape XLT from North America - Comments

Several driver and passenger side air bag/restraint sensor and indicator problems. Whole passenger side system had to be replaced. Covered under extended warranty.

Engine seal leak at 60,000 miles. Covered under extended warranty.

Needed new brake pads and rotors at 60,000.

Engine replaced at 75,000 miles for a spun bearing that threw a rod.

I was happy with this car before I lived in the mountains and before it had several recalls and major problems. It got 22 mpg on the highway, was comfortable, and made several cross country trips, loaded to the gills.

I am a good, defensive driver and take care of my car. None of the problems I had were due to negligence.

Now I live at 9,000 feet and my engine quit on me driving over the Continental Divide. THANK GOD I was just 22 miles under my 75,000 mile extended warranty! Supposedly Escapes run at high rpm's and can't handle the altitude! I NEVER would have guessed this with the fact that everyone in the mountains has an SUV type vehicle! I never knew this could be a problem in any car. I specifically asked if the car would handle well at high altitudes and if there were any changes I needed to make when driving in and moving to the mountains. I was told it would be fine and no changes needed to be made.

I would be out thousands and thousands of dollars if it weren't for the extended warranty I purchased for this car so unless the newer models of the Escape are much better, I would not recommend buying one!

I don't know about the Escape's engine management, but many engine management systems have an atmospheric pressure sensor.

If it fails the engine will assume the pressure is 1013mbar which at sea level you may not notice, but which will be noticeable at 9000 feet. Scanning the codes should pick up the fault although usually these sensors are integral to the ECU and the only option is replacement.

You are not specific about what happened, but if this problem did exist you would see a degradation in performance rather than a sudden failure in otherwise normal running. I wonder if this breakdown really is altitude related?

I believe most manufacturers now test their vehicles up to 15000 feet during the design phase.